Issue 116 February/March 2011 CONTENTS
Laboratory and Statistical Science News and products
At your service
With unique requirements, CROs need an informatics solution up to the task. Beth Sharp explores the options
Interview
Founder and director of phaseFour Informatics, John Trigg, discusses the informatics issues currently facing labs
Cover feature: Here comes the sun
The application of statistical software is aiding of understanding of solar phenomena, as Felix Grant discovers
High-Performance Computing News and products
HPC comment
Jody Egginton, chief engineer at Team Lotus, explains the impact high- performance computing has had on Formula 1
How cool are supercomputers?
Paul Schreier investigates the progress manufacturers of computer systems are making in reducing power consumption
On the road to exascale Will we reach exascale computing power within the next decade? Industry experts give their opinions
Modelling and Engineering News and products
Blowing down the barriers to wind energy
Paul Schreier examines how renewable energy companies are taking advantage of the latest technological aids
A model example of chemistry
Beth Sharp fi nds out how chemical modelling software tools affect the way chemists approach their work
Resources Diary dates
Suppliers’ directory Inside views
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4 Moving forward 8
The pace of development in scientifi c computing is accelerating. Some of this results from the traditional ‘pull’ of consumer demand, as scientists and engineers try to align their virtual models ever more closely with the real world and attempt to crunch ever larger datasets. But there has also been a ‘push’ from developments in computing technology itself – for example, with multicore chips and GPUs. From statisticians to structural
engineers, and from quality control chemists to designers of racing cars, professionals working in science and engineering rely heavily on these advances. But how do they keep up? For more than 18 years, Scientifi c
Computing World has delivered in-depth features, breaking news, product reviews, industry opinion, and more. Computing is pervasive in science, engineering and medicine, and this has been refl ected in our deliberate choice of broad editorial coverage. Filtered into the key channels of Laboratory and Statistical Science, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Modelling and Engineering, we aim to offer readers the most pertinent information in a distinct and easy-to- navigate format. For even more information, visit
www.scientifi
c-computing.com, subscribe to our free newslines and follow us on Twitter @scwmagazine.
Beth Sharp
the responsibility of the publishers or of the editorial staff. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or editorial staff. All rights reserved. Unless specifi cally stated, goods or services mentioned are not formally endorsed by Europa Science Ltd, which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication.
US copies: Scientifi c Computing World (ISSN 1356-7853/ USPS No 018-753) is published bi-monthly for £100 per year by Europa Science Ltd, and distributed in the USA by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Rd, Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville PA. Postmaster: Send address corrections to Scientifi c Computing World PO Box 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437.
Subscribe for free at
www.scientific-computing.com/subscribe FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 3
Cover image Shutterstock
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